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UNITED STATES `PATENT @Erica ALBERT M. MCLANE AND CAGER HARDGRAVE, OF CLARKSVILLE, ARKAN- SAS, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO JAMES A. DOW'DY, OF SAME PLACE.

EGG-CASE FILLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,525, dated January 18, 1898.

Application tiled April 22, 1897. Serial No` 633,3011 (No model.)

To all whom it may cmccrn:

Be it known that we, ALBERT M. MGLANE and GAGER HARDGRAVE, citizens of the United States, residing at Clarksville, in the county of Johnson and State of Arkansas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg-Case Fillers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as io will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide a frame or filler for egg-cases which is simple and cheap in construction and in use will permit the eggs to be packed closer than with the Old style of frame or iller, besides possessing the additional advantage of giving each egg a larger number of bearing-surfaces that will properly support it within the crate or case.

2o To this end the invention contemplates a con struction providing a filler or frame made up of the usual strips of cardboard, which are slit in a peculiar manner, so that when interlocked and extended the cells presented there- 2 5 by will be hexagonal instead of rectangular,

the particular formation of the cells permitting the eggs to be packed closer than formerly.

With the above ends in view the invention 3o consists in a filler or frame for egg-cases made up to present hexagonal cells.

The invention further consists in the particular manner of forming the iiller or frame by which it is constructed ofthe ordinary cardboard strips.

In the following specification we have entered into a detail description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to numerals thereon, which designate the different parts, and what we con- Sider to be the novel features of construction are specifically set forth in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan View of the egg-case filler or cell-frame constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the frame. Fig. 3 is a view showing the frame folded. Fig. 4t is a detail side View of one of the cardboard strips which make up the frame.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, l

l designate the end pieces of the frame of the improved egg-case filler, and 2 and 3 designate the cross pieces or strips, which are interlocked or placed in engagement with each other to form the cells.

' In the construction of an egg-case ller or cell-frame to present the particular formation of cell herein shown-that is to say, with six sides instead of the usual foursided cell-the 6o strips of cardboard are provided with the slits 4, which are equidistant apart, and when the strips are placed in engagement with each other orinterlocked the slits of one strip will engage the parts of the other adjoining strip below the slits therein and alternate parts of the cardboard between the slits will engage or be placed side by side with the corresponding parts of the other cardboard strip when extended. In forming' these slits in the card- 7o board they are cut into iirst one edge and thenA the other alternately in pairs, in order that when the strips are placed together they will be more firmly connected and will not allow the upper part to bend. Vxhen the cardboard 7 5 strips are connected in the manner hereinbefore described and extended, the cells presented will be hexagonal, and thereby permit the eggs to be packed closer together, there being no spaces which are usually left in the 8o corners of the ordinary rectangular cells. Besides, the eggs will have a larger number of bearing-surfaces, and consequently will be more securely held in the casing, which will not permit the eggs to turn.

The end pieces of the frame are provided with a smaller number of slits than the other strips, so as to engage every other pair of slits ol' the adjoining cross-piece and lie fiat against the said cross -piece throughout its entire 9o length.

The particular manner of forming the iiller or cell-frame permits the same to be folded in a manner to secure economy of space, and when folded it will not be extended like the ordinary fillers, but will be contracted in a compact form. It will also be noted that the cells are reinforced, and the cardboard being slit alternately at opposite edges and connected as hereinbefore described the cells are roo thoroughly braced and made strong and durable Having thus described the invention, rwhat is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. A cell-frame or ller for egg-eases, oonsisting of the cardboard strips slit at opposite edges in alternating pairs, the said strips being connected to eaeh other so that every alternate part between the slits will lie together.

or interlock, whereby a frame is formed presenting eells which are hexagonal in shape, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

2. A cell-frame or filler foregg-oases,.made up of cardboard strips presenting cross-pieces which are provided with slits arranged in ypairs alternating at opposite edges of the strips, said strips being connected or interloeked, substantially as shown; together with the end pieces of the frame presenting slits that engage the alternate pairs of slits of the zo adjoining cross-pieces.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT M. MCLANE. CAGER HARDGRAVE.

vWitnesses:

VOLN STOWEL, M. A. MOORE. 

